Did You Know About These Beautiful Long Haired Cat Breeds?

Long haired fluffy cats as well as short haired cats make great pets. However, people tend to have preferences on long haired versus short haired. Many cat owners prefer long haired felines as they are soft, smooth and they love to pet them all day.

Long-haired vs. short-haired cat – Which do you prefer?

Long-haired cats are pretty soothing to pet. Personality-wise, they’re not much different from short haired cats unless you’re looking at breed-specific cats such as rag dolls. It’s a personal preference and it’s the look.

Some people love the look of a long-haired cat because they’re just stunning when their coats are brushed, and they look fluffy and pretty.

Some people think that short hair cats would shed less than the long hair cats, but that’s not always the case. Depending on the type of coat that they have, they can shed equally.

Some long hair cats in fact shed less than some short haired breeds. The only real difference is the maintenance of the coat. For long-haired cats, it’s necessary to brush them regularly and really care for their fur. However, for a short-haired cat, if you want to brush them, it’s kind of a luxury if you get to.

Some popular cats with a long fur

Birman Cat

This breed originates from Burma and was introduced in Europe in early 1900’s and then brought over to the US after that. They are almost classified as a dog like cat that likes to follow you around the house. They love lots of attention and are very people oriented.

Birman cats are very good companion cats and they are not at all troublesome. They do like to talk to you when they want attention. They will speak to you in their own distinctive little voice but its not an annoying type of meow. Rather a soft tone and very lovable sound.

They are very sociable, playful, active and like to play with cat toys, and also like to participate with everybody in the family. You can take them on a family trip outdoors as well.

Birman doesn’t have an undercoat like the Himalayan or Persian; therefore, it’s a low maintenance cat. The brush just slides right through the hair even though it’s classed as a long haired cat. Combing them is very easy and they don’t need too much attention as far as the grooming aspect is concerned.

The Burman cat is exquisite and sweet to look at. They are well mannered with a loving nature and a calm disposition.

All Burmans are born white but they don’t stay that way. These adorable cats have light colored coats with characteristically dark spots. Burman paws are always white as snow and their widely spaced eyes are baby blue.

This cat breed does not really have a lot of known genetic health problems that you have to worry about.

Domestic Longhaired Cat

Domestic long-hair cat is a very elegant and a pretty cat with long tresses. It’s basically a common cat with a fancier fur.

Domestic long haired cats descended from the short haired cat over 400 years ago. They evolved as a result of mutation to adapt better in colder environments. These furry felines later came to America with the early settlers who brought them along for rodent control.

Their common characteristic is medium to long fur in any color or pattern. It can be anywhere between two to six inches in length. Some of these cats boast of neck ruffs that make their heads look broader.

Their long fur is prone to matting and you need to groom and bathe these furry felines at least once or twice a week.

The Himalayan Cat

Himalayan cats originated in England and they have short bodies with a very short nose. They are a sub breed of Siamese crossed to a Persian breed.

They are very laid-back, docile and owner dependent quiet cats. They make excellent apartment cats because they are not very vocal. They are very much a lap cat because of their long coat and their owner dependent personality.

Himalayan cats are really not the outdoor types and they would not know how to look after themselves. They normally do travel very quiet as is their temperament. They’re not easily stressed out and they don’t mind different environments.

They make excellent cats for seniors who don’t want a very active loud cat especially if they’re in an apartment building. They adapt very well to other animals, dogs or cats.

They shed their hair in little clumps and that can be controlled by good grooming. They should be combed twice or thrice a week and bathed at least every two months.

The average life of the Himalayan cat is from about 12 to 15 years. It depends on how well you look after them and keeping them indoors is the big secret.

Maine Coon

Maine Coon is one of the largest domestic cat breeds. They don’t really mature till they are about 3 to 5 years of age. They are also one of the oldest natural cat breed of North America and come in many different color combinations.

They are nice mellow cats with tufts of hair around their neck just like a lion’s mane and a long bushy tail. They are noted for their sturdy and rugged appearance. Maine coons have tufted paws and ears which provide protection and warmth.

They are easy to maintain. They have a thick flowing silky coat and it doesn’t have much of an under coat. So, if you just brush them daily, their hair doesn’t get tangled.

Maine coons are very laid-back and not at all hyper. They’ll follow you around and they don’t necessarily be on you but they want to be beside you. Their personable and intelligent personality makes them very dog like.

The Norwegian Forest Cat

Norwegian Forest Cats are large, semi long haired, very sweet natured and playful lap cats. They grow to an average size of around 50 inches and weigh around 22 pounds . They are wonderful with other animals and come in so many different colors. The pedigree of this breed goes all the way back to Northern Europe.

They have a thick under coat with long guard hair over the top. The coat is designed to keep them warm in a cold climate and it may take you around 30 to 45 minutes to get this cat wet as they have an additional layer of fat for insulation.

On an average they live to be around 15 years old. They are quite popular as household pets because of their large size, long fur and loving and gentle disposition.

The Persian

Originating from Persia (Iran), the Persian cats are very laid back, sweet, gentle and extremely quiet. They are an excellent family cat and will play with children very gently.

They adapt very well with other animals such as dogs. They are usually quiet but can be very playful and active at times.

As with any other cat they shed not more than any short hair breeds. The only difference is that the hair being longer, it shows more.

As far as their grooming is concerned, they need to be combed daily as their long hair tangles and mats easily. Their eyes need to be cleaned regularly as they are prone to several problems due to their facial structure.

Grooming is a nice bonding experience for you and your cat and once you start them very young they are easy to handle and grow. Persian cats are very easy to groom as they are non aggressive, calm, shy and need reassurance to feel secure.

The Ragdoll

The ragdoll is a relatively new breed of cat with a large body size and well exposed intense blue eyes. They are very affectionate, docile cats and tend to be low energy. They are playful at times but they are not climbers.

Ragdolls are strictly indoor cats. They won’t fare very well outside because of their friendly temperament towards strangers and other large animals.

They can stay by themselves and tend to sleep during the day. They are also very quiet, relaxed and use their vocal abilities occasionally. Ragdolls are good family cats and have natural affinity towards large gentle dogs. They are very good with children and do not display any sort of temper towards children or other animals.

They require minimal grooming and they have a semi long silky overcoat with minimal shedding. There is no undercoat and the hair does not tend to knot.

The Siberian

The Siberian forest cat is a Russian breed with dog like characteristics. It’s been present in Russia for centuries. They are built to survive in very harsh climates.

These cats are pouncers; they do not run fast but they’re going to have great patience and wait for their prey and jump when they find one.

Their coat texture is also evolved to do well in cold climate. The Siberian is known to have all three types of coat textures that we find in the domestic cat. The coat is triple layered with guard hair on top, so that will protect the cat from snow or rain and also helps the cat to lie on their back. A ruff around their neck helps them to keep warm.

They have thick skin and their neck is quite broad. The Siberians also have long hair between their toes which act like little snow shoes. You will find many similarities between the Siberian Cat and the Norwegian forest cat.

The Turkish Angora

These sleek plush cats were first noticed centuries ago in the snowy rugged mountains of Angora (Ankara), Turkey. Turkish Angoras also have many dog-like traits. Some respond to voice commands and some even play fetch. This ancient breed was attractive to French royalty because of their beautiful, gracious appearance with their long coat.

They talk a lot and they are known for their large tufted ears. They are long, elegant, and graceful and have sleek bodies. White is their most popular color, but there are many colored Turkish Angoras.

Despite their long hair, Angoras don’t need much grooming. Their average lifespan lasts from 15 to 20 years.

Safely brushing your medium or long-haired cats

Long hair in cats can get really clumpy and shed a lot all over your house. Brushing regularly helps prevent shedding.

When long haired cats lose their dead hair, it actually sticks into their healthy coat. The dead hair doesn’t come out as easily as a short haired cat. If you don’t help them by brushing them out it can be too much for them to take care.

This will cause them to form hair balls, matting and even knots from all the hair starting to clump up. If mats get too close to the skin and they are too tight, you should take them to a professional groomer.

A cat’s skin is not attached to the muscle and it can be very easy to cut them. So, don’t try to cut their hair with scissors or try to shave them yourselves.

If they have little simple knots or few little mats here and there, that aren’t too close to the skin, you can get those out using a slicker brush or a Greyhound comb.

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